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Named for a locality in Chester County, PA, where the Continental Army suffered bitter
cold and privation during the winter of 1777–1778 while British troops basked in warmth and plenty
in nearby Philadelphia. Yet, because of the inspiring example of leaders like George Washington and
skillful training by drill instructors like Friedrich Wilhelm Augustus von Steuben, the American Army
emerged from its winter encampment with renewed self confidence, courage, and fighting ability. The
name Valley Forge has since become a symbol of the triumph of American patriotism and self-sacrifice.

Valley Forge was built with money raised by the citizens of Philadelphia in a special
war bond drive.

Converted to an "Amphibious Assault Ship (Helicopter)" at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth,
VA, Mar–Jul 1961. Reclassified LPH-8,
1 Jul 1961. Valley Forge was the third and last Essex-class carrier converted
to an LPH, and her conversion was more austere than the other two — Boxer
(CV-21 / LPH-4) and Princeton (CV-37 / LPH-5).

USS Valley Forge (CV-45) underway with CVAG-11 aboard, possibly during
her World Cruise, 9 October 1947–11 June 1948.

Tommy Trampp

NS024547

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The Sydney Harbor Bridge comes into view as USS Valley Forge (CV-45) approaches
Sydney, Australia, first port of call on a training and good will cruise in Pacific waters, circa January–March
1948. Valley Forge was flagship of Rear Admiral H.M. Martin, Commander, Task Force 38.
Planes on deck include F8F Bearcat fighters and TBM Avenger bombers. In the left background
are two Royal Australian Navy cruisers. HMAS Australia is at the far left. HMAS Shropshire
is beyond and somewhat further to the right. This photo was released for publication on 27 March 1948.
Official U.S. Navy photograph, from the collection of the Naval
History & Heritage Command (# NH 96950).

USS Valley Forge (CV-45) gets up steam as she prepares to leave Trincomalee,
Ceylon, after a two-day visit by U.S. Task Force 38, circa April 1948. The British heavy cruiser Norfolk
is in the right background, and a Royal Navy light cruiser is partially visible at left. Photograph
was released for publication on 24 April 1948.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (#80-G-705399).

NHC

NS024511

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We had just come back into SF Bay following one of the largest post WW2
exercises in 1948. The total number of ships included all the West Coast carriers, Boxer,
Antietam, Valley Forge, Princeton,
and Tarawa. Boxer, Valley Forge,
and Tarawa went into SF the others into San Diego. Our force attacked the West Coast
from Hawaii, the other force was defending.

Tim Leary PH1 USN Ret (1945-1965)

NS0576325

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USS Valley Forge (CV-45) along with USS William
C. Lawe (DD-763), USS William M.
Wood (DD-715), USS Lloyd Thomas
(DD-764) and USS Keppler (DD-765)
at Pearl Harbor during their 1948 World Cruise. (Thanks to Andrew P. for identifying the location.)

Bob Bush

NS024502

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View of the carrier's island, with members of the American Ordnance Association visiting
on board, while the ship was operating near Long Beach, California, 27 April 1949. An F8F-2 Bearcat
fighter is parked alongside the island. Note large SX radar antenna atop the tripod mast, and many
onlookers standing on the island walkways.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives
(photo # 80-G-K-9904).

Scott Dyben

NS024504

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Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat fighters prepare to take off from USS Valley
Forge (CV-45) in September 1949. This appears to be a VIP demonstration, as there are a
large number of civilians watching from the island walkways. The two F8F-2s in front are
Bureau #s 121746 (first plane) and 121722. Note men standing by the wheel chocks, and flight
deck tractors standing by at left.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives
(photo # 80-G-427668).

BuNo 121746, modex V01, is the commanding officer's aircraft, assigned to CDR David R. Flynn (thanks
to Robert Hurst).

Scott Dyben

NS024548

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USS Boxer (CV-21) photographed from USS Valley Forge
(CV-45), while en route from Pearl Harbor to San Diego during Operation Miki in November 1949.
Photographed by Ted Huggins.

USS Valley Forge (CV-45) launches OY Sentinel observation planes,
during Operation Miki, November 1949. One plane is in the lower left, preparing to take off.
Another is faintly visible in the air, just beyond the ship's bow. Photographed by Ted Huggins.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the All Hands collection at the Naval History & Heritage
Command (# NH 96976).

Robert Hurst

NS024516

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First Korean War Carrier Air Strikes, 3-4 July 1950. A North Korean railroad
train is attacked just south of Pyongyang by planes from the joint U.S.-British Task Force 77, 4 July
1950. The carriers involved were USS Valley Forge (CV-45) and HMS Triumph.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-417148).

NHC

NS024517

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Wonsan Oil Refinery, Wonsan, North Korea, burning after being struck by USS Valley
Forge (CV-45) aircraft on 18 July 1950. Photograph may have been taken on 19 July, when smoke
from these fires was visible from the carrier, operating at sea off the Korean east coast.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-418592).

NHC

NS024505

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Grumman F9F-3 "Panther", of Fighter Squadron 52 (VF-52), taxies forward on USS
Valley Forge (CV-45) to be catapulted for strikes on targets along the east coast
of Korea, 19 July 1950. Note details of the ship's island, including scoreboard at left.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives
(photo # 80-G-428152).

Scott Dyben

NS024518

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USS Valley Forge (CV-45) (left) and USS Philippine
Sea (CV-47) (center) at their anchorages at Sasebo, Japan, during Korean War resupply activities,
23 August 1950. The ship in the right distance is USS Rochester
(CA-124).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-418734).

NHC

NS024519

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Douglas AD Skyraider attack planes from VA-55 "Skyraiders," Carrier Air Group
(CVG) 5, off USS Valley Forge (CV-45), fire 5-inch rockets at a North Korean field position.
Photo is dated 24 October 1950.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-422387).

NHC

NS024506

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USS Valley Forge (CV-45) and USS Leyte
(CV-32) moored at Sasebo, Japan, circa October-November 1950. USS Hector
(AR-7) is moored beyond the two carriers, with other U.S. and British warships in the distance.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives
(photo # 80-G-426270).

Scott Dyben

NS024544

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United Nations ships assigned to support military operations in Korea pictured at anchor
in Sasebo, Japan, during a break in the action. Pictured from front to back: the aircraft transport
HMS Unicorn (R72), the light
cruiser USS Juneau (CLAA-119),
the aircraft carriers USS Valley Forge (CV-45) and USS Leyte
(CV-32), and the repair ships USS Hector
(AR-7) and USS Jason (ARH-1).
The photo was taken in late 1950 or early 1951, as this was the only time that Leyte operated
off Korea.

USS Valley Forge (CV-45) leaves San Diego, Calif., 6 December 1950, to
urgently return to the Korean War zone for her second tour of combat duty, following a quick replenishment
visit to the U.S. west coast. Acoma
(YTB-701) is assisting, from off the carrier's port quarter. Official U.S. Navy photograph, from the
collection of the Naval History & Heritage Command (# NH 96940).

Robert Hurst

NS024533

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Planes from Carrier Air Group (CVG) 2 prepare to launch from USS Valley Forge
(CV-45), circa 6 December 1950–26 March 1951. Planes closer to camera are F4U-4 Corsairs
from VF-24 "Corsairs" (modex M400 series), VF-63 "Fighting Redcocks" (M200), and VF-64 "Free Lancers"
(M100). Skyraiders are in the background—an AD-2 from VA-65 "Fist of the Fleet" (modex
M500 series) can be identified in the left background.

Gary Schreffler

NS024507

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Crewmen use flight deck tractors with power brooms to sweep snow from the
carrier's flight deck, during operations off Korea, circa early 1951. Photo is dated 8 May
1951, but Valley Forge ended her second Korean War deployment in late March of
that year. Plane parked in the foreground is a F4U-4 Corsair fighter. Those on the forward
flight deck are an AD Skyraider attack plane and a HO3S helicopter.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives
(photo # 80-G-428267).

Scott Dyben

NS024508

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Crewmen participate in a snowball fight, while clearing snow from the carrier's flight
deck during operations off Korea, circa early 1951. Photo is dated 8 May 1951, but Valley Forge
ended her second Korean War deployment in late March of that year. Planes parked on deck are F4U-4
Corsair fighters. That at left, with rockets on its wing, is Bureau # 81150.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-428270).

This photo of USS Valley Forge (CV-45) is believed to have been taken in
the spring or summer of 1951, while conducting CarQuals off the West Coast. Planes on deck are AD
Skyraiders of VMA-121 "Green Knights" and F4U Corsairs of VMF-451 "Blue Devils."

"The pictures are of two of the three Banshee jets that came aboard
[Composite Squadron (VC) 61, tail code "PP"]. The third one was blown overboard by a huge storm that
hit during the night hours because it wasn't tied down good enough."

Since the pictures show F9F Panthers from VF-52 (tail code "S") and VF-111 (tail code
"V"), they were probably taken during Valley Forge's third Korean War cruise, 15 October
1951–3 July 1952.

Marion J. Leif

NS024528a

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NS024534

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This appears to be a VF-653 "Dragons" F4U-4 Corsair being readied for launching.
Time frame would be USS Valley Forge's third Korean cruise, 15 October 1951–3 July
1952.

This appears to be a VF-111 "Sundowners" F9F-2 Panther recovering aboard USS Valley
Forge (CV-45). Time frame would be the carrier's third Korean cruise, 15 October 1951–3
July 1952.

NS024520

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Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, February 1952.

Don Garner

NS024525

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View of the city of Wonsan, North Korea, after over a year's bombardment by United Nations'
forces, as seen from a USS Valley Forge (CV-45), aircraft on 16 February 1952. Note
extensive damage, including craters from bombs and shells.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-439287).

NHC

NS024509

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USS Valley Forge (CV-45) taking water over the bow and onto her
flight deck, while operating in heavy seas off Korea, 21 March 1952.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives
(photo # 80-G-440889).

Scott Dyben

NS024531

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The first of a flight of eight Bell HTL-3 helicopters rise from the flight deck of USS
Valley Forge (CVA-45), off the Japanese coast, circa early January 1953. Valley
Forge transported these aircraft to the Far East for use in evacuating Korean War battle casualties.
The original photo is dated 3 January 1953. Its caption stated that this "was the largest mass take-off
of helicopters in the history of Naval aviation".

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (#NH 96952).

USS Valley Forge (CVS-45) in harbor, 20 January 1956, with crewmen
paraded on her flight deck spelling out the ship's nickname: "HAPPY VALLEY".

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives
(photo # 80-G-689246).

Scott Dyben

NS024552

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This is believed to be USS Valley Forge (CVS-45) at anchor in Guantánamo
Bay. The photo was taken by John Flanagan, AT2, from his barracks door, probably in late 1956.

John Flanagan, AT2, 1955 to 1958

NS024532

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Official U.S. Navy photo of USS Valley Forge (CVS-45) underway, dated 17
May 1957. This picture appears to have been taken in the Caribbean or Western Atlantic, with S2F Trackers
of Antisubmarine Squadron 36 (VS-36) "Gray Wolves" and HSS-1 Seabats of Helicopter Antisubmarine
Squadron 5 (HS-5) Det. 52 parked on the flight deck.

In early January 1959, while operating in the stormy North Atlantic, Valley
Forge encountered heavy seas that broke over her forward flight deck, tearing away part of
its port side. This was another dramatic example of the vulnerabilities of the "open bow" design typical
of World War II aircraft carrier design (see also NS021252, NS021846
and NS022011), a problem solved by the enclosed "hurricane bow" fitted
to carriers newly built or modernized during the mid-1950s and later. Valley Forge's
damage was quickly repaired, using flight deck structure cannibalized from the decommissioned USS Franklin
(CVS-13).

Top: Photograph taken on 6 January 1959, looking forward. Note ship's hull number ("45")
painted on the flight deck, with the left part of the "4" folded by the broken decking. Official U.S.
Navy photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 96971).

Middle: Photograph taken on 8 January 1959. Official U.S. Navy photograph, from the collections
of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 96956).

Bottom: Forward port portion of the flight deck of USS Franklin
(CVS-13) is hoisted into place on the Valley Forge. Photograph was taken on 24 January
1959. Official U.S. Navy photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 96972).

Task Group ALFA, formation portrait of the anti-submarine group's ships and aircraft,
taken during 1959 exercises in the Atlantic, while Secretary of the Navy William B. Franke was embarked.
Ships include the group flagship, USS Valley Forge (CVS-45) in center, two submarines,
and seven destroyers. Identifiable among the latter are USS Eaton
(DDE-510) at left front, USS Beale
(DDE-471) following Eaton, USS Waller
(DDE-466) in the center foreground, and USS Conway
(DDE-507) at right front. Aircraft overhead include two formations of S2F Trackers from the
Valley Forge air group, plus one shore-based P2V Neptune from Norfolk Naval Air
Station, Virginia. Two HSS-1 helicopters are flying low, directly over the submarines. Official U.S.
Navy photograph (# USN 1043095).

USS Valley Forge (CVS-45) at anchor, July 1960, with Antisubmarine Carrier
Air Group (CVSG) 56.

Photo Galilea.

Jaume Cifré Sánchez

Miscellany

NS024524

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The science-fiction cult movie Silent Running (1971; starring Bruce Dern; directed
by Douglas Trumbull) was shot in 32 days aboard the stricken Valley Forge. The Making
of "Silent Running" documentary (1972) has interesting footage of the ship.